|
Phrases and Idioms |
Meaning |
801. |
rough – rough and ready |
Simple or crude but effective. |
802. |
round – go the rounds |
To pass from one person to another. |
803. |
round – in round figures |
Express exact numbers as the nearest whole numbers. |
804. |
round – round of applause |
Audience or people are clapping to show their appreciation of something. |
805. |
round – round someone up |
To gather together a number of people |
806. |
rub – rub one’s hands |
Indicate personal satisfaction with what one has done or what has happened. |
807. |
rub – rub shoulders with |
Come into contact with. |
808. |
rule - as a rule |
Usually the case; usually true. |
809. |
rule - rule of law |
Situation in which everyone is subject to and abides by the law. |
810. |
rule - rule of thumb |
A rough guide based on experience rather than theory. |
811. |
rule - rule the roost |
To be in control. |
812. |
runner - do a runner |
To flee the scene so as to escape from or avoid something. |
813. |
running – in running order |
Sequence in which events are arranged to take place. |
814. |
running – in/out of the running |
In/no longer in a contest. |
815. |
rush – rush one’s fences |
Do something hurriedly |
816. |
sad – sadder but wiser |
Learn something after its effect has become clear or understood. |
817. |
safety – safety in numbers |
Used to mean less danger in a lot of animals, people, etc. being together. |
818. |
salt - worth one’s salt |
Good at one’s job. |
819. |
same – same to you |
May you have the same thing. |
820. |
save – save one’s breath |
Not worth saying anything. |
821. |
save – save one’s skin |
Look after one’s own safety. |
822. |
save – save the day |
Solve a problem. |
823. |
scene - behind the scenes |
In secret away from public view. |
824. |
scene – hit the scene |
To arrive; appear. |
825. |
scene – not one’s scene |
Not something someone is interested in. |
826. |
score – on that score |
Concerning something just mentioned. |
827. |
score – settle a score |
To inflict revenge on someone who has caused an injury or harm to oneself. |
828. |
scrape - in a scrape |
In difficulty. |
829. |
scrape - scrape the barrel |
Using the last, remaining, low quality of resources. |
830. |
scratch - scratch a living |
Manage with just enough to survive on. |
831. |
scratch – scratch one’s head |
Be confused, seeking a solution. |
832. |
scratch – scratch the surface |
Deal with a matter but not thoroughly enough. |
833. |
scratch - up to scratch |
Good enough to meet a certain standard. |
834. |
second - second to none |
The best. |
835. |
seller - a seller’s market |
Situation in which demand of goods and shares is more than supply, and prices are generally high. |
836. |
sense – make sense of |
To find or seek out the meaning of something |
837. |
serve – serve a sentence |
Spend a period of time in a prison. |
838. |
serve – serve one’s country |
To fight for one’s country. |
839. |
serve – serve someone right |
Someone who deserves the punishment or misfortune. |
840. |
service - be of service |
Be available to help if help is needed. |
841. |
set – be set on |
To be very determined about doing something. |
842. |
shadow – shadow of death |
Intense gloom or peril. |
843. |
shelf - off the shelf |
Ready for purchase without having to place an order. |
844. |
shelf - on the shelf |
No longer useful or desirable; too old to get married. |
845. |
shit - be shitting bricks |
To be in an extreme anxious and frightened state. |
846. |
shit – full of shit |
Use to describe what someone says is stupid. |
847. |
shit – in the shit |
To be in deep trouble. |
848. |
shoestring - on a shoestring |
Cheaply, without spending much money. |
849. |
short – in short supply |
Insufficient to meet the demand of a commodity, etc. |
850. |
short – short of breath |
Breathing with short, quick breaths. |
851. |
shot – a long shot |
A poor guess or attempt at something |
852. |
shot – a parting shot |
A remark that one makes before leaving. |
853. |
shoulder – shoulder to shoulder |
Together with mutual cooperation and support. |
854. |
sick – sick to death |
Extremely fed up and annoyed by constant exposure to something. |
855. |
sight – at first sight |
First impression conveyed by something; when first seen. |
856. |
sight – raise one’s sights |
Aim to achieve something. |
857. |
sinew -sinews of war |
Money. |
858. |
six - sixes and sevens, at |
In a disorganized and confused state. |
859. |
skin - skin and bone, be |
Very thin. |
860. |
skin - skin someone alive |
To mete out very harsh punishment to someone. |
861. |
sleep – put to sleep |
To administer drug or anaesthetic to someone to make them unconscious; to kill an animal painlessly. |
862. |
sleep – sleep a wink |
Sleep for a brief moment. |
863. |
sleep – sleep on it |
To defer (a decision, etc.) to a later date. |
864. |
slip – let something slip |
To accidentally make known information that is meant to be kept secret. |
865. |
slip – slip a disc |
Suffer intense pain when a piece of the series of small bones forming the backbone becomes displaced. |
866. |
slip – slip of the tongue |
Make a mistake when speaking. |
867. |
slip – slip one’s mind/memory |
To forget to do something. |
868. |
slog - slog it out |
To battle or compete fiercely for something. |
869. |
sly on the sly |
Secretly; done in a surreptitious way. |
870. |
smell - smell a rat |
To detect something suspicious. |
871. |
snap – in a snap |
In a moment, immediately. |
872. |
son – son of a bitch |
Used to show total disrespect for or address someone in an insulting and offensive way. |
873. |
son – son of a gun |
Used to refer to someone. |
874. |
sort – a sort of |
To not exactly describe someone or something. |
875. |
sort – in some sort |
To a certain extent. |
876. |
sort – of a sort/of sorts |
Of an inferior or unusual kind, not worthy of its name. |
877. |
sort - out of sorts |
Not in one’s normal good health. |
878. |
sort – sort of |
To some extent; partly. |
879. |
spare – spare no expense |
To use unlimited amount of money as is required. |
880. |
sparks – spark will fly |
There will be a heated exchange. |
881. |
speak – on speaking terms |
Slightly acquainted. |
882. |
speak – so to speak |
Not exactly as it means; in some sense. |
883. |
speak – speak evil/ill/well of |
To refer unfavourably/criticize/praise |
884. |
speak – speak one’s mind |
To express freely exactly what one thinks. |
885. |
spick - spick and span |
Completely clean and tidy. |
886. |
spill – spill one’s guts |
Reveal willingly much information about something. |
887. |
spill – spill the beans |
To accidentally make known what is previously unknown or secret information. |
888. |
spin – spin a story/yarn |
Tell an untrue story to deceive someone. |
889. |
split – a split second |
An extremely brief moment of time. |
890. |
split – split one’s sides |
Laugh hysterically. |
891. |
sport - be a sport |
Used when seeking favour of someone. |
892. |
spout - up the spout |
Unsuccessful, wasted; pregnant. |
893. |
spread – spread one’s wings |
To expand one’s knowledge, experience, or interest |
894. |
staff - staff of life |
Staple food, especially bread. |
895. |
stand – I stand corrected |
Ready to admit one’s view or judgement is wrong. |
896. |
stand – stand in line |
Queue up. |
897. |
stand – stand one’s ground |
Stick resolutely to one’s opinion, etc. |
898. |
start – for a start |
To begin with. |
899. |
start – to start with |
To deal with the first thing or first part of something. |
900. |
state – state of affairs |
Situation. |